Lekha G
A PIL was moved in the Delhi High Court seeking payment of INR one crore and 50 lakhs as ex-gratia to the family of each Judicial member and Court staff respectively who succumbed to Covid-19.
The plea also requested a direction to declare late Kovai Venugopal and Kamran Khan, judicial officers who lost life due to Covid as frontline workers.
The Petition was moved by Advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir stating that the respondent authorities miserably failed in their duties and showed “Little empathy towards such officers and their kith and kin” by abdicating their responsibility in protecting their life who were at risk of contracting the virus.
The plea stated that “During this period of time a number of Court staff members belonging to the Lower Judiciary as well as Judicial Officers got infected but nevertheless attended the Court hearings, facilitated the same for the benefit of the general public at large.”
The Petition also stated that a considerable number of officers of the Lower Judiciary, Court Staff and Registry Officials were undergoing a harrowing experience.
They were not being able to meet the medical expenses of their loved ones and the loss of life of their immediate relatives.
It was also contended that though the Delhi government extended compensatory relief to the family of public officers and employees who died due to Covid serving as frontline workers, no such steps had been taken with regard to Judicial Officers, Court staff, and Registry Officials who contributed to the justice delivery system at the cost of their lives and health.
The plea further sought to direct the Office of Registrar General, Delhi High Court to immediately place on record the details of medical expenses borne and to be borne by members of Lower Judiciary, Subordinate staff as well as the Court staff of Delhi High Court.
The same has to be submitted before this Court issuing necessary directions to the respondents to ensure reimbursement of medical expenses irrespective of whether the patients were hospitalized in empanelled hospitals or other private hospitals.
